Ionia girls soccer edges Fowlerville

The Bulldogs got a late goal from Michaela Lewis to post a 3-2 home win.

By Dean Holzwarth

Ionia’s standout soccer player, Bailey Sarka, has been sidelined for the past week with a severe right ankle sprain.

The absense of the Bulldogs’ top player has forced others to pitch in, and on Tuesday afternoon, they delivered.

Michaela Lewis scored with 13:55 remaining in regulation to help send Ionia to a 3-2 home win over Fowlerville.

“This is a good opportunity for the team to rally around each other because a lot of times they expect a little more of Bailey,” Bulldogs coach Scott Sarka said. “It has been great to watch how they have been pulling together.

“They are starting to pick up the pieces that she would normally do, and it’s a work in progress, but they’re starting to get used to each other and making plays together.”

Lewis’ goal, which banged off the outstretched hands of the keeper and into the left corner, snapped a 2-2 tie.

The Bulldogs led 2-1 at the half before Fowlerville evened it early in the second half.

“I just shot it and hoped for the best,” Lewis said. “It went in, and it was really exciting. This feels pretty good to get the win because we haven’t been doing too well lately.”

Lewis said the team is adjusting to playing without Bailey Sarka in the lineup.

“It’s been pretty tough without she’s the person that tells everybody where to be, and without her, we’ve had to take charge ourselves,” Lewis said. “We’ve struggled a little bit because she helps us so much, but we’re working together as a team.”

Ionia, which also received goals from Taylor Bovee and Skyler Randal, evened its record to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the CAAC Red.

“We had two good practices this week so I felt confident coming into this,” Scott Sarka said. “We didn’t live up to what I thought we would do early, but we worked our way into to it and had a couple opportunities that we did cash in.”

Scott Sarka said Lewis has had a knack for capitalizing on her chances when called upon.

“She seems to be at the heart of a lot of the drives,” he said. “She’s like a shark out there. She’s wandering through waiting for her opportunity and then she strikes.

“She’s been looking like the last few games like she wants to have an impact on the game and,obviously, she did here today.”

PREP ROUNDUP

Boys Track and Field

Ionia 90, Fowlerville 47

The Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1 league) won 14 of the 17 events, including all three relays.

Jordan Zamarron won the 3,200 and also led off the winning 3,200 relay that also included Tristan Ward, Marshall Rademacher and Peter Pelon.

Pelon also claimed wins in the 800 and 1,600 and joined Riese Penn, Ward and Rademacher in the 1,600.

Lakewood 85, Portland 48

Nate Kauffman took first place in the pole vault and took second in the high jump and 110 hurdles for the Vikings and Griffin Quisenberry won the long jump and placed second in the 100 behind teammate Wesley Stoepker.

Jacob Pohl claimed wins in the 110 hurdles and 200 for the Raiders, while Hunter Scott raced to a victory in the 400 and also won the shot put.

Girls Track and Field

Ionia 103, Fowlerville 29

The Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1 league) claimed top honors in 15 of the 17 events.